Lasers target two airplanes in Colorado Springs

Planes have been making emergency landings across the country because of laser beams and this “laser assault” is happening in Colorado Springs.

But it’s more than a harmless prank- it can threaten the lives of pilots and passengers, and the person pointing the laser could face a felony.

“A laser that doesn’t maybe damage your eyes permanently can blind you momentarily,” said pilot and retired Col. Al Uhalt. “If you’re close to another airplane or on short final approach, for landing, it can cause an accident.”

He understands the danger, though he thinks the people with these lasers, don’t.

“They’re flirting with disaster that could kill a lot of people,” Uhalt said.

Sunday night, a flight was grounded at the Colorado Springs Airport after four green lasers targeted the plane.

Wednesday night, police got a call that lasers were pointing at a plane in the 1600 block of Kodiak Drive. The pilot told police that he saw someone targeting his plane with a laser.

The Federal Aviation Administration considers the act a felony because of the danger to pilot’s vision and passengers on board those planes.

A police spokesperson told KRDO NewsChannel 13 they couldn’t find probable cause while investigating the incident Wednesday night.

The FAA wouldn’t comment on the progress of the incident at the airport Sunday night.